Prof. Plamen I. Dankov

Prof. Plamen I. Dankov received his M.Sc. degree in atomic physics and his PhD degree in Microwave Physics from the Faculty of Physics in Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria, in 1980 and 1988, respectively. In 1989, he joined the Department of Radio-Physics and Electronics in the Faculty of Physics and now he is an Assoc. Professor in Microwave and Wireless Technique. He has established teaching of many courses in the area of Radio-Electronics, Wireless Communications, Microwave and Wireless Technique, Microwave Measurements, Antennas for Wireless Communications, EMC in IC's, Basic Principles of Mission Design with Small Aerospace Vehicles, etc. Currently he is a Chair of two successful Master programs: “Wireless Networks and Devices” and “Aerospace Engineering and Communications”. He is also a scientific consultant for material characterization and antenna radomes in RaySat, Bulgaria and Gilat Ltd. (Gilat Satellite Networks).

The research efforts of Dr. Plamen Dankov are focused on characterization of dielectric material properties and anisotropy; microwave measurements; RF planar devices, antennas and antenna arrays, electromagnetic 3D simulators, near-field measurements; EMC measurements, safety standards for microwaves; satellite communications, aerospace engineering and small satellites, etc. He has more than 125 papers, presented and published in different journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Dankov is member of the Review Board of the Annual European Microwave Conference EuMC (more than 180 review notes), IEEE-MTT, IEEE-MWCL, IEEE Instrumentation and measurements; IEEE Microwave Magazine, etc. He is member of IEEE in 4 societies: 1) Microwave Theory and Technique; 2) Antennas and Propagation, 3) Instrumentation and Measurements, 4) Aerospace and Electronic Systems. Dr. Dankov has participations in several international and local contracts in different areas: material characterizations, plasma antennas, THz beams; controlled thermonuclear fusion (EUROATOM), COST VISTA project: Versatile, Integrated, and Signal-aware Technologies for Antennas, etc. A new joint project between Sofia University and Siberian State Aerospace University in Krasnoyarsk, the Russian federation, is developing now. Similar activity is started together with CASTRA-Bulgaria with the University of Bologna, Italy for 2014/15.

Dr. Dankov organized the MIC2 seminar in Bulgaria, February 2012, and was the leader of the Sofia University team in MIC2, selected for semifinalist in Nagoya, October 2012.

Contact: dankov(at)phys.uni-sofia.bg; PlamenD(at)gilat.com

Nikolay Tomov

Mr. Nikolay Tomov is Member of the Management Board at the Cluster Aerospace Technologies, Research and Applications (CASTRA) since 2012 and heads CASTRA Academy for space education and training. In 2010 he initiated the establishment of the Bulgarian Modeling and Simulation Association – BULSIM, a non-profit association for public benefit and since then Mr. Tomov is the Chairman of the Management Board. In 2016 Nikolay was elected for Board Director in the European Training and Simulation Association (ETSA).
Mr. Tomov has strong business background. He is Managing Director in Synergy Simulation&Training Ltd - a Bulgarian company, provider of advanced simulation and training solutions and services. In 2015 Mr. Tomov started Integris Lab Ltd with focus on IT consultancy, system integration and cybersecurity. In 2017 he founded a company for maritime simulation and training named Innovative Maritime Solutions Ltd. Before starting his own business Nikolay has been holding different managing positions in international and local companies.
Mr. Tomov is a lecturer in Master's Program "Aerospace Engineering and Communications" at the Faculty of Physics in Sofia University and conducts "Software with Applications in Aerospace Engineering" course. Nikolay is the Faculty Advisor of the Bulgarian Students Team in NASA Simulation Exploration Experience project.
Mr. Tomov received his M.Sc. Degree in Physics and Astronomy from the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University in 2002. Then he started his postgraduate study on accretion discs in close binary systems in the Space Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), where he took part as a young researcher in the conceptual design for the development of the first Bulgarian microsatellite for ecological monitoring, astronomical and physical experiments. In the period 2002 – 2006 Nikolay was involved as a young scientist in various activities of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics and the Institute for Parallel Processing at BAS.
Mr. Tomov is an author and co-author of various publications in the field of simulation, training, small satellites and project management. Mr. Tomov is an Associate editor in Crises Management and Disaster Response Conference Proceedings, issued by NATO Center of Excellence in Crises Management and Disaster Response.